In the Messhall where several crewmembers are eating Seven approaches the table where Torres and Kim are dining together. Seven: "Lieutenant. Ensign." Kim: "Hey, Seven." Torres: "Would you like some dinner? The potato salad isn't half bad." I don't require nutrition at this time. I would like to talk with you." Torres and Kim are momentarily surprised. Kim: "Ok."

The Doctor can be seen nearby. He says: "Computer, freeze program." Torres and Kim freeze - they were holograms!

USS Voyager approaches a nebula. Janeway: "What have we got here?" Kim: "Looks like a Mutara class nebula, with a few trace constituents that aren't in our database, but they're showing up in minute quantities." Tuvok: "The nebula is vast, Captain. It extends beyond the reach of our sensors." Janeway: "Ha, then I guess we won't try to go around it. Tom, take us in at one-half impulse." Paris: "Yes, ma'am."

Kim: "I'm detecting a slight radioactive field. It's-"
Kim breaks off his report, wincing.
Janeway: "Harry?"
Kim: "Nothing. Just, just a headache coming on."
As he starts suffering more, Chakotay suggests, "Maybe you should go to Sickbay."
Kim: "Yeah, maybe so-"

But the pain gets worse, and then finds that his hand has sustained a severe burn, and the whole of the Bridge crew are suffering in their own way, clutching their heads in pain. Janeway gasps an order to Paris: "Tom, turn us around, get us out of here."

The Doctor in Sickbay: "What's happened? I'm being inundated with calls!" then orders Seven, who is there in Sickbay: "Seven, go to the Bridge. Use the dermal regenerator to treat the burns."

Voyager is still in the nebula. Paris has fallen on the floor in pain and tries to reach the helm but fails. Tuvok staggers from his station and manages to reach the helm where he lays in the course.

Kim, back at his station, reports: "We've cleared the nebula." Janeway orders, "All stop." Seven arrives on the Bridge as the rest of the Bridge crew stand up and return to their stations, feeling better, all except for an Ensign, who has died in agony from hideous burns.

In Astrometrics Janeway and Seven examine the display graphic on the viewscreen which shows the nebula.
Seven: "The nebula extends for at least 110 light-years, possibly more."
Janeway: "At the least, it would take us well over a month to get through it and more than a year to get around it."
Seven: "The crew was unable to tolerate the nebula for even a few minutes. They certainly could not survive a month."
Janeway: "We've come 15,000 light-years. We haven't been stopped by temporal anomalies, warp-core breaches or hostile aliens and I am damned if I'm going to be stopped by a nebula."

Note about this screenshot. The stasis chamber on the monitor comes from a later screenshot. The moment the stasis chamber appears Janeway looks at it so only the back of her head is visible at that point.

In Sickbay. Doctor: "I've analysed a sample of the gases from the nebula. I think the damage came from subnucleonic radiation. Even the briefest exposure is devastating to organic tissue." Janeway: "Can you give us any protection against the effects?" Doctor: "Yes, stasis chambers, independent life support for each unit." Janeway: "Are you suggesting that the entire crew be put in suspended animation?" Doctor: "Yes. I of course would stay online in order to monitor everyone." Janeway: "This is a drastic step, Doctor. Are there any other options? Adjusting the shields? Innoculations?" Doctor: "I assure you, I've considered all possibilities. This is the only way."

Janeway: "There's more to getting through the nebula than monitoring the crew. Who would regulate ship's systems, make course corrections?"
Doctor: "I think I've demonstrated that I have a command of the rudimentary aspects of piloting."
Janeway: "Of course you have and I know you could do it. But you'll need backup. We have no idea what effect the nebular radiation might have on your holomatrix. What if you went offline?"
Doctor: "There was only one crewmember besides myself that seemed unaffected by the nebula."

Janeway: "I want you to understand the seriousness of this responsibility. The lives of the entire crew will be on your shoulders." Seven: "You doubt my ability to fulfil this task." Janeway: "Ordinarily, not at all, but this is an unusual situation. After being in the Collective, it wasn't easy for you to adjust to a ship with only 150 people on it, was it, Seven? How would you feel with only the Doctor for company?" Seven: "I will adapt." Janeway: "Most humans don't react particularly well to long periods of isolation. Borg drones have even more difficulty." Seven: "As you've pointed out, I am neither human nor Borg. I can do this, Captain." Janeway: "Alright. I'll work with my senior staff to draw up a list of duties. But let me make it clear: the Doctor will be in command. You will follow his instructions as you would mine." Seven: "Follow the orders of a hologram?" Janeway: "He's our Chief Medical Officer and he's thoroughly grounded in Starfleet protocols. You will report to him." Seven: "I understand."

Briefing room.
Chakotay: "The Doctor's preparing the stasis units now. They should be ready by 1700 hours."
Paris: "And how long will this be for?"
Janeway: "We don't know for certain. At least a month, maybe longer, if the nebula is larger than we estimate."
Torres: "I've never been in long-term stasis. Are there any side-effects?"
Janeway: "The Doctor assures me it'll be just like taking a nap. We'll go into the units, our cardiopulmonary systems will be slowed, neural activity suspended and we'll wake up feeling as though we'd had a good night's sleep."
Kim: "There are things that can go wrong, at least, that's what I've read."
Janeway: "We'll be carefully monitored by Seven and the Doctor who will check our vital signs four times a day, taking care of any problems."
Paris: "I assume we've explored all the alternatives."

Janeway: "I think we're all feeling uneasy about this, and I'd be lying if I said I don't have concerns myself, and I think it's about loss of control. We always feel better if we think we're in charge of our circumstances. In stasis we give up that control and no Starfleet officer likes to do that. The crews have been in stasis for much longer than a month. I think we can handle it. Alright. You're free until 1700 hours. I'll make a ship-wide announcement when the Doctor's ready. Dismissed."

Paris, Torres and Kim leave, leaving Janeway and Chakotay alone together.
Janeway: "Something else?"
Chakotay: "I want you to tell me that this isn't a mistake."
Janeway: "Your turn to get reassurance?"
Chakotay: "Maybe, but my concern isn't about going into stasis, it's about who you're leaving in charge."
Janeway: "You're worried about Seven."
Chakotay: "Maybe you need to step outside yourself for a minute, look at the fact that here's someone who's butted horns with you from the moment she came on board, who disregards authority and actively disobeys orders when she doesn't agree with them."
Janeway: "And this is the person I'm giving responsibility for the lives of this entire crew. I suppose you want me to tell you I'm not crazy."
Chakotay: "In a nutshell. I know your bond with Seven is unique, different from everyone else's. From the beginning you've seen things in her that no one else could. But maybe you could help me understand some of those things."
Janeway: "I don't know if I can. It's just instinct. There's something inside me that says she can be redeemed. In spite of her insolent attitude I honestly believe she wants to do well by us."

Chakotay: "That's good enough for me." Janeway: "See you at 1700 hours."